The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has explained why former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and ex-presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso, did not join the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a Hausa political programme on DITV Kaduna on Tuesday, Baba-Ahmed said talks between the PRP and both politicians collapsed after disagreements over conditions attached to their proposed entry into the party.
He explained that although Obi and Kwankwaso had approached the PRP for possible collaboration, the negotiations later stalled after both sides failed to reach an agreement.
“They came and said they wanted to join the PRP, but when we sat down and discussed with them, there were certain demands they made,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed said a key issue was their request to be guaranteed the party’s presidential ticket without going through internal competition.
“Before they joined, they told us that they were the presidential candidates, meaning they should be given the ticket. We told them no, this is PRP; we do not practice that kind of politics,” he said.
He maintained that the PRP insisted that any aspirant must first become a member of the party and comply with its constitutional processes before contesting for any position.
